True enough, every Soviet/Com-Bloc weapon I've come across is simple to operate and built with the average Russian in mind. But, and this kind of speculation isa big but, if not for the Russian Winters, all of those unskilled peasants with unzeroed rifles probably would've not only died by the millions, but lost the war. Had the Germansbeen ableto hold onto Moscow and Stalingrad (and not blow it at Kursk), I doubt Stalin could'vejust set up shop on the other side of the Urals and hope to strike a fatal blow toGermany from there. In many ways, he was a lucky man to rule over such a harsh country. No general in any conflict would be wise to discount luck in war.